Animal Behavior- Chapter 54

Question 1

Ethology

Answer 1

The scientific study of animal behavior, particularly in natural environments

Question 2

Proximate causation

Answer 2

The “how” behaviors occur:
Environmental stimuli that trigger a behavior
Genetic, physiological, and anatomical mechanisms underlying a behavior

Question 3

Ultimate causation

Answer 3

The “why” behaviors occur

Evolutionary significance of a behavior, for survival or reproduction

Question 4

What factors determine behavior?

Answer 4

Nature and nurture.
Nature is genes guide development of nervous systems and thus behavioral responses.
Nurture deals with the social environment that animals are developed within. The experiences they gain can guide behavior.

Question 5

Fixed action patter

Answer 5

A sequence of unlearned, innate behaviors that is unchangeable. Once initiated (triggered by an external cue or key stimulus), it is usually carried to completion.

Question 6

What is an example of behavioral genetics?

Answer 6

fosB gene in mice. Mothers with both of the alleles disabled ignore their young.

Question 7

What is an example of a fixed action pattern?

Answer 7

Egg rolling in geese. The behavior goes to completion even if the egg is removed.

Question 8

Learning

Answer 8

The modification of behavior based on specific experiences (responding to the environment) and therefore are not innate.

Question 9

Habituation

Answer 9

A simple form of learning that involved loss of responsiveness to stimuli that conveys little or no information.

Question 10

What is an example of habituation?

Answer 10

Birds will stop responding to alarm calls from their species if these are not followed by an actual attack (ie: Pigeons at the trimet)

Question 11

Associative learning

Answer 11

How animals associate one thing with another

Question 12

Classical conditioning

Answer 12

Also known as Pavlovian conditioning.

An arbitrary stimulus is associated with a reward or punishment.

Question 13

Operant conditioning

Answer 13

An animal learns to associate a behavior with a reward or punishment.

Question 14

Example of operant conditioning

Answer 14

A rat that is fed after pushing a lever that gives it food will learn to push the lever in order to receive food (trial and error learning)

Question 15

Imprinting

Answer 15

Behavior that includes learning and innate components and is irreversible

Question 16

Critical period

Answer 16

A limited developmental phase that is the only time when certain behaviors can be learned.

Question 17

Filial imprinting

Answer 17

Forms between parent and offspring

Question 18

Example of imprinting

Answer 18

Young geese following their mother or Konrad Lorenz and geeze

Question 19

Kinesis

Answer 19

A simple change in activity or turning rate in response to stimulus

Question 20

Taxis

Answer 20

More automatic, oriented movement toward or away from a stimulus
Ex: positive chemotaxis and negative phototaxis
(Response to a stimuli)

Question 21

How can animals orient themselves during migration?

Answer 21

The position of the sun and their circadian clock
The North Star
The Earth’s magnetic field (some birds have magnetized iron ore in their heads)
Landmarks

Question 22

How to animals know when to migrate?

Answer 22

Changing seasons, lunar cycle, or an internal clock.

Question 23

Signal

Answer 23

A behavior that causes change in another animal’s behavior (usually species specific)

Question 24

Communication

Answer 24

The transmission and reception of signals

Question 25

How do animals communicate with one another?

Answer 25

Via visual, chemical, tactile, and auditory signals.

Question 26

Mate choice

Answer 26

Belongs to the animal with more investment in parenting (usually females). Females usually choose makes with the best territory, or those who are the largest or strongest.

Question 27

Altruism

Answer 27

When animals behave in ways that reduce their individual fitness but increases the fitness of others.
Described by “selflessness”
Can be explained via reciprocity (what they gain out of it) or “kin selection” (passing on of alleles)

Question 28

Example of altruism

Answer 28

When under threat from a predator, an individual Belding’s ground squirrel will make an alarm call to warn others, even though calling increases the chances that the caller will get killed.

Question 29

Animal behavior

Answer 29

An animal’s response to external and internal stimuli